Roselle officials present sprinkler and alarm flowcharts for new and renovated buildings

Village staff presented visual flowcharts and answered trustee questions about when sprinklers and fire alarms are required for new construction, major modifications (50% threshold), and buildings vacant for 12 or more months.

Kristen Meal, director of development engineering services, said the flowcharts will be posted online for public access and walked trustees through residential and non-residential paths. Fire Chief Tim Schmeltzer and Ms. Meal said most surrounding communities require residential sprinklers for new construction and that residential installation costs are typically modest (about $1–$2 per square foot for new builds), while retrofit and infrastructure requirements for commercial properties depend on fire-flow demands.

Trustees asked whether mandatory sprinklers would put the village at a regional disadvantage and raised concerns about retrofit costs when a business must bore under a street or upsize a water main; staff said developers typically cover required upgrades and plan-review processes identify water-flow needs in advance. The Metro 19 multi-unit development was cited as an example that required looping the water main to meet fire-flow requirements. Trustees also sought clarification that a 12-month vacancy triggers an alarm requirement and that modifications exceeding 50% can trigger sprinkler requirements depending on occupancy change and review outcomes. Staff agreed to revise a missing loop on the flowchart and to provide clearer wording for terms such as "modification."